This prehistoric EARTHENWARE
pot is an example of some of the oldest pottery found in the world.
It probably comes from central Japan, near where Tokyo is today. The
deep jar was made during the middle years of a period named Jomon by
a 19th century scholar. The culture lasted from 10,500 to 300 B.C. The
Jomon culture was not only long-lived, but also widespread; evidence
of its existence has been found at over 75,000 sites. It was the first
Japanese culture to produce ceramic wares, made in many different forms
and styles. Although determining precisely when the earliest Jomon vessels
were made is difficult, RADIOCARBON
DATING has identified pieces from as early as 10,500 B.C.

In the Middle Jomon period people had to migrate to central
forested highlands because of melting Ice Age glaciers that had begun
to separate Japan from the mainland. They survived by hunting, gathering,
and fishing and used simple tools of wood, bone, horn, or stone. Large
villages consisted of pit houses with central heating and cooking areas
that emphasized the importance of family unity. The people stored and
processed the foodstuffs they gathered, and perhaps even cultivated some
of their own crops. The large number of vessels that have been excavated
from dwellings throughout Japan suggest the people enjoyed economic stability
and enough leisure time to develop crafts that incorporated decoration
that wasn't functional, but was a delight to the eye.